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No Straight Lines: The Past, Present, and Future of Queer Comics

Thursday, June 22, 2023 | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm ET
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Next Gen PEN America Pride Picnic

2023 Pride Picnic with Next Gen PEN America

Friday, June 16, 2023 | 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm ET
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New Report: 28% Rise in School Book Bans Over First Half of 2022-23 School Year

Press ReleaseApril 20, 2023

“The heavy-handed tactics of state legislators are mandating book bans, plain and simple,” said Suzanne Nossel, Chief Executive Officer of PEN America. “Some politicians like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis… More

Disruption and Harassment at Riley Gaines Speaking Event Made a “Mockery” of Free Speech

Press ReleaseApril 7, 2023

“What happened at SFSU was a disaster,” said Kristen Shahverdian, senior manager in free expression and education. “Physical intimidation or violence is never an acceptable response to speech, no… More

Frequently Banned Books Featuring Transgender Stories

news
By: Sabrina Baêta | March 30, 2023

In national efforts to ban books and restrict content on LGBTQ+ characters and themes, stories on transgender individuals and characters are commonly challenged and banned, making up about 9%… More

Cancellation of Drag Benefit Show on Texas Campus Goes Against Norms of Free Expression

Press ReleaseMarch 21, 2023

“This cancellation is an abhorrent trampling of students’ free expression rights,"  said Kristen Shahverdian, senior manager of free expression and education at PEN America. “It goes against university policy… More

The Most Banned Picture Books of the 2021-2022 School Year

news
By: Lisa Tolin | February 14, 2023

These are the most banned picture books of the 2021-2022 school year. Several are nonfiction, including histories of civil rights and gay pride. Others are lighthearted fiction about animals… More

Suspension of Virtual Library App by CA’s Orange Unified School District Is An Overreaction and Sets a Worrisome Precedent

Press ReleaseFebruary 2, 2023

Allison Lee, managing director of PEN America’s Los Angeles office, released the following comments: “The decision to immediately remove access to thousands of books for students due to a few… More

Drag Queen story hour

Laws restricting drag shows should scare everyone who believes in free expression

Advocacy
By: Kate Ruane, Jonathan Friedman, Samantha LaFrance, Julie Trébault | January 19, 2023

A wave of bills restricting free expression is building in state legislatures. This time, the target is drag performances.  More

Writing While at Risk: The Authorship and Urgency of Trans Stories

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 | 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm PT
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